Derrick Brown is no longer having to carry the spotlight in Carolina, and that says everything about the Panthers’ growth under Dave Canales
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown has been through some tough years in Carolina, and his perseverance is shining through along with the rest of the team after 3-2 start.
The Carolina Panthers needed to build on last season’s momentum, and so far they have. After winning the division and reaching the playoffs for the first time in close to a decade, the Panthers are off to a 3-2 start to the 2026 season under head coach Dave Canales.
Few players on the roster appreciate that climb more than defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Brown first arrived to Carolina in 2020 as a first-round pick, developed into an All-Pro caliber player, and now has become a franchise cornerstone for this team. He has been with this team through the thick of it. Now he’s leading a team that is starting to look like a real contender, and he’s not alone.
At first glance, Brown’s had a quieter year than you might expect when it comes to generating national attention. He’s still dominating up-front, but he isn’t drawing the same recognition he has in years past.
That isn’t a knock on Brown, however. It’s a sign that the rest of the roster has finally risen to the high standard he has always brought to this organization.
Dave Canales’ broader approach as head coach as the Panthers on the right path
That rise starts at the top with Canales. Going into this season, the Panthers head coach handed over offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik so he could serve as a more centralized leader across all three phases.
The results have paid off. Canales has set a clear direction for this team, and the difference in how he has operated through the first six weeks has been impressive and something the players have really bought into.
“He is consistently the same person every single day,” Brown said of Canales in an interview with A to Z Sports. “I can tell you on one hand how many times I’ve heard him yell, and he’s not yelling about the wins or losses, right? He’s big about control the things you can control. Your effort, your focus.”
That consistency was even more important early in the year when the Panthers’ highly-anticipated season got off to a rough start at home against the Chicago Bears. It was a 59-37 loss that easily could have led to internal rifts and finger-pointing. But, that’s not what happened for this team and Canales’ leadership is the reason why.
“That’s one of those situations where everybody’s upset, frustrated, and you got a guy that’s your leader coming into the room and says, ‘Hey, look, let’s go. There’s one game. We got 16 more left. Let’s go.’ And you just accept that challenge, and he brings that challenge for you every day. And we appreciate him for it,” Brown added.
Devin Lloyd’s presence has helped share the leadership load for the Panthers’ defense
Brown has also benefited from having a new leader alongside him on defense. Throughout Brown’s first few seasons, cornerback Jaycee Horn served as really the only other focal point of that unit. Losing Horn early in the season due to a torn quad was a major blow, both because of the player he is and the leadership he provides for this team.
Fortunately, one of the Panthers’ newcomers has stepped up in a massive way in his first season with the team. Linebacker Devin Lloyd, who came over from the Jacksonville Jaguars, has played at an All-Pro level through the first six weeks of the season and quickly emerged as one of the top leaders for this team.
“He’s doing exactly what we brought him in to do, and what we knew from seeing him on tape in Jacksonville. He’s a truly special player, and I’m gonna try to do everything I can do to keep him clean and allow him keep getting in people’s backfield,” Brown said of Lloyd. “I think that’s the fun part where we get to work in unison, and it allows him to be able to shine. Being able to see it while he’s on your team is a lot better than watching him do it to your team.”
Carolina desperately needed to get that linebacker position right, and Lloyd has been money well spent. He has been a difference-maker for the defense and has helped Brown send the message each week. Just as important, he has taken some of the leadership burden off Brown’s plate so that the defense isn’t having to run entirely through one player.
Derrick Brown’s mentorship is still paying off on the interior
That doesn’t mean Brown hasn’t taken a backseat when it comes to his leadership role this season. If anything, it’s elevated going back to the offseason looking back on his work mentoring the younger players in the defensive line room.
The Panthers faced a tough situation in May when veteran defensive lineman Turk Wharton underwent neck surgery and Carolina knew it would be without him for an extended period. That opened the door for younger players to step up next to Brown on the interior throughout the offseason and over the first few weeks of the season, including second-year defensive lineman Cam Jackson (prior to his season-ending injury) and two rookies in Lee Hunter and Aaron Hall.
“It’s awesome to have Turk back. But I mean, I remember when I found out what was going on it was one of those things where in my head like, we got our young guys right. (They) got to be able to play come come hell or high water, come September,” Brown explained. “(They) got to be able to go out there and play and execute.”
Those young defensive linemen were suddenly lifted into much bigger roles earlier than expected. Brown work with them over the course of training camp and into the start of the regular season had them ready to go. And it was a full circle experience for Brown.
“It’s just been it’s been an awesome learning experience for those guys to get that valuable playing time and to get that valuable practice time,” Brown added. “Like, I think the older I’ve gotten, right, like I was the guy that was making mistakes when (Kawann) Short was here, right? Like I was the guy that you know KK was having to look out for, and now it’s my time to pay it forward, and I very much enjoy that.”
Now that Wharton is back, the Panthers have a deep room up-front from the top down. Brown is the All-Pro caliber anchor, Wharton’s return provides a veteran presence alongside Bobby Brown III, and the young players have gotten their feet wet and are swimming early because of those early opportunities.
Brown’s leadership and guidance is a big reason why. He spent the last few months getting those players ready to jump on the chance they received while Wharton was out, and that payoff has been immediate and should be something that continues elevating this defense.
Early start has been great, but the Panthers have higher goals to achieve this season
The depth, accountability, and leadership the Panthers have shown over the last two seasons, and especially this year, is why this team has turned the corner into a real playoff contender. Each week, Carolina is proving it can be a legitimate threat in the NFC, and it’s still being overlooked by those who haven’t caught on to what this team could do.
For Brown, this has to be rewarding. He has been with this franchise for years, waiting to get to this point. Now he finally gets to enjoy the fruits of that labor while leading the charge alongside some great players.
“I tell you what, I mean I’m embracing this process with these guys,” Brown said. “Loving this team and loving being in this moment right now.”
That being said, it’s still early. The Panthers are roughly a third of the way through the season, and they face a long stretch after having an early bye week. But, Carolina has big goals, starting with staying atop the NFC South and making an even deeper run in 2026.
Time will tell how far this group can go. For now, the Panthers are off to a hot start, and Brown no longer has to be the one to carry it all alone.
